New York Liberty Acquires Emma Meesseman
All 13 WNBA teams were vying for the signature of Emma Meesseman, the 2019 Finals MVP known for her stellar basketball career in both the WNBA and international leagues. Ultimately, the defending champion New York Liberty emerged victorious in securing her place on their roster.
Meesseman, known for her ability to score and shoot from the outside, was a valuable target, and Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve openly acknowledged her team’s interest. With the acquisition of Meesseman, the Liberty has certainly boosted their championship odds, especially since star players Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones are dealing with injuries this season.
However, bringing in new players in August comes with its complications. It often requires letting go of someone on the roster, and for the Liberty, that decision led to cutting Jaylin Sherrod. An undrafted guard, Sherrod spent limited time on the court but was a vital presence in the Liberty locker room. They could have opted to release another player—perhaps recent signing Stephanie Talbot—but ultimately chose to part ways with Sherrod, who hadn’t made a significant impact on the floor for New York.
The New York Liberty has released guard Jaylin Sherrod, the team announced today. Thank you, Jay, for your grit, energy, and passion night in and night out. Your legacy as a New York champion will last forever!
Liberty Parts Ways with Jaylyn Sherrod
General Manager Jonathan Kolb expressed his sentiments about Sherrod when announcing her release. “Jaylyn Sherrod is a champion in every sense of the word. She embodies the passion, grit, and relentlessness that defines New York.”
During her two seasons with the Liberty, Sherrod played in 28 games, averaging 1.5 points over five minutes per game. Now she’s a free agent, looking for opportunities elsewhere before the season concludes. Before joining the Liberty, she had a solid college career at the University of Colorado, posting averages of 10.1 points and 4.6 assists.
While Emma Meesseman’s addition certainly enhances the team, providing more depth, shooting, and size, letting go of another player from the 2024 Championship squad is a bittersweet aspect of this decision.
